A quickie appendectomy

[BenF]

Did your doc not do an abdominal CT?? That's the definitive diagnostic tool to determine the condition of your appendix and takes only about 20 to 30 minutes (not counting the docs looking over the scans)

That's a fuck of a lot of radiation for what is, essentially, a clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on a suitably experienced surgical hand being placed on the abdomen - blood counts, CRP, ESR, USS and CT Scans are all misleading rhubarb. CT Scans are only really helpful if you think that something else may be amiss.

 

[Yngbldhwk]

BenF46: You're correct. It is, relatively, a lot of radiation and most people don't realize to what extent, and that the effects are cumulative. Still, I would personally prefer the rads instead of a potentially unnecessary abdominal surgery. Then, too, there's the issue of the almighty dollar. My lap appy in the US was $16,000 and that was around ten years ago. By now the cost has probably doubled. (That did include a four-day hospital stay.)

 

[jockboy01]

ask his surgeon why he thought it was appropriate to let an appendix form an abscess, when he could have just whipped it out in the first place.

Hard to say from his post. I read it that he didn't seek care for his original flare up until it had already ruptured and was resolving. In which case it is not uncommon to treat it with antibiotics and then do a delayed appy.

CT Scans are only really helpful if you think that something else may be amiss.

True, but that's why our health care system is such a mess. We waste money on CTs for appies all of the time. It's more because of the fear of lawsuits if the clinical diagnosis is wrong. Granted, that doesn't happen often, but it only takes once. So instead we waste thousands of dollars and expose patients to all of this radiation simply so we can say we checked that box if it goes to court. It's stupid and just another example of lawyers ruining this country (mind you, there are good lawyers too... I have a LOT of lawyer friends, but this is by and large).

 

[BenF]

True, but that's why our health care system is such a mess. We waste money on CTs for appies all of the time. It's more because of the fear of lawsuits if the clinical diagnosis is wrong. Granted, that doesn't happen often, but it only takes once. So instead we waste thousands of dollars and expose patients to all of this radiation simply so we can say we checked that box if it goes to court. It's stupid and just another example of lawyers ruining this country (mind you, there are good lawyers too... I have a LOT of lawyer friends, but this is by and large).

Firstly, which idiot is telling the post-op punters that their appendix was not inflammed?? The surgeons around my parts use the word "turgid" as a synonym for "lily-white". It is always amazing how well the pain settles when a normal appendix is removed.

Secondly, if the patient is stupid enough to want a CECT Abdo for a straightforward diagnosis, then more fool them. Shame on the doctors for exposing their patients to so much unnecessary radiation because they "can't be too careful" - wimps. It would be an interesting test case if somebody were to sue for an unnecessary scan being done. The same goes for the tossers that insist on having a CT Head for their tension headaches (patiently awakes anecdote from some JUBber about their brother's, girlfriend's, chauffer's cousin who had a brain tumour)

The only tool that you need for a diagnosis of appendicitis is a surgical hand in the right iliac fossa - anything else is misleading and is nothing more than a product of the tick-box mentality of busybodies that have been instrumental in the modern day lawyerfication and nursification of medicine.


DOI: Never have, nor ever will, work in America.